Blessing of the Purified Sanctum

As the sanctuary spread its protective embrace, glowing fairies danced among the vibrant flora, their delicate wings leaving trails of radiant healing energy.

The scene was otherworldly, petals from blooming flowers floated gracefully through the air, creating a cascade of colors against the shimmering aurora overhead.

Herman, his breathing labored, focused intently on stabilizing Ariase's convulsing body.

The fairies, flitting around in curiosity, paused to observe him.

With a rough, commanding voice, Herman declared while infusing his voice with his mystic energy:

"Luminarias! I summoned you from your realm, and now I ask for your aid... as your master!"

His voice echoed across the sanctuary, carried by waves of wind and light.

The intensity sent petals spiraling skyward, a spectacle so breathtaking even Erica, observing from outside the barrier, was momentarily stunned.

The fairies turned toward Herman, their tiny voices harmonizing in soft, melodious tones.

"Were you really the one who called us~?"

"Hehe~ to think a human managed to summon us from Luminaria," one fairy mused aloud.

Another fairy promptly smacked the speaker on the head.

"Don't address our master so casually!"

A golden fairy fluttered forward, her light shining brighter than the rest.

"What do you need of us, Master?" she asked with a graceful bow.

Herman, still grunting from the strain of purifying Ariase and stabilizing the liquified mystic energy, responded, "Release all your fairy dust... and heal us both."

The thousand fairies nodded in unison, their voices chiming together.

"As you command~!"

They rose from the ground, their wings shimmering with otherworldly hues.

As they began to sing in harmony, glowing particles of fairy dust fell from the sky, and the aurora intensified, blanketing the sanctuary in its radiant glow.

In an instant, Ariase's convulsions ceased.

His ragged breathing stabilized, and his pale complexion began to regain its color.

Herman, too, felt the toll of the mystic stone's energy ease, the [Fairy Dust] and the [Aurora of Luminaria] working in tandem to soothe his battered body.

Yet, despite the healing, Herman knew his limits were nearing.

The incomplete sanctuary art exacted a heavy toll on him, even with the fairies' intervention.

Still, he managed a weak smile as he saw Ariase returning to a semblance of normalcy.

'It's working,' he thought. 'The liquid's effects and the sanctuary art are holding for now. I-I need to focus and complete fast.'

Meanwhile, Ariase, though no longer writhing in pain, remained mentally and physically drained.

His thoughts were fragmented, his mind teetering on the edge of exhaustion.

'I... I thought I was going to die...' he reflected, a mixture of gratitude and despair swirling in his mind.

'Damn it. Just a little more... I have to persevere... just a little more.'

Outside the barrier, Erica could only watch, her heart pounding with astonisment.

"A second sanctuary art!" she exclaimed, her voice shaking.

"Impossible... To think Herman would create another sanctuary art already. But... it's incomplete..."

She wiped her eyes from the incoming tears, her voice trembling with fear and frustration.

"He already established three sanctuaries already. If something happens to him..."

Nearly forty minutes later, Herman coughed up blood, the strain of maintaining the incomplete sanctuary finally overwhelming his body.

Some of the fairies noticed immediately, their harmonious voices now tinged with worry.

"Something's wrong with Master!"

"Master, are you okay?"

"Tina, what should we do?"

"Should we call the Fairy Queen? She'd want to know we've left Luminaria!"

Their chatter was a whirlwind of concern, but only Herman seemed able to understand their words.

Ariase, utterly spent, barely understanding the commotion, his focus entirely on enduring the final stretch.

Herman's eyes widened at the mention of the Fairy Queen.

'The Queen?! Are they serious?' his mind raced.

'If I could form a contract with her... that would meet the requirement for my 5th Halo. No!'

He shook his head sharply, chastising himself.

'You need to focus, Herman! I need to finish this first before everything else.'

Steeling himself, he addressed the fairies.

"All of you, I'm okay. Just continue pouring the fairy dust for now," he commanded, his voice firm despite his faltering strength.

The fairies complied, their glowing wings intensifying their effort.

As the purification neared its conclusion, Herman allowed himself a small smile.

He could feel it, the impurities in Ariase's body were almost entirely eradicated.

Soon after, the purification finally reached its conclusion.

His body, suspended in the air, radiated an aura of intense purity.

A surge of power rippled outward as the quartz pillar and its golden chains shattered into countless fragments.

Groggily, Ariase's thoughts surfaced.

'It's finally over... I-I can rest at last.'

His consciousness faded slowly, the pain in his body fading away with each passing moment.

Meanwhile, Herman and Erica turned their focus to maintaining their santuaries over the minor realm.

They worked in perfect synchronization, ensuring not even the faintest trace of mortal bestowment escaped the realm-isolating barrier.

Ariase's body began to undergo a transformation eerily reminiscent of samsara.

His hair fell away, his skin dried and cracked, his bones twisted unnaturally, and his muscles pulsed violently.

The sight was horrifying, but Herman remained calm.

He knew this was the final phase.

Soon, the blessing of the purified sanctum would descend.

The grotesque transformation stopped abruptly.

Ariase's body stilled, lifeless yet brimming with potential.

The starry sky above the minor realm trembled as luminous hands of light emerged, ethereal and divine.

They descended, cradling Ariase gently, enveloping him in a radiant cocoon of light.

The awe-inspiring sight left Erica shaken.

Though she was awakened to the space element and well-versed in its mysteries, even she could not identify the origin of these hands.

They bore no resemblance to the powers of Philippine Gods.

The aura was foreign, otherworldly.

Her thoughts raced.

'What in the world did Herman do to get in contact with such a being?! I just hope he hasn't touched any of the greater taboos... Or else the casualty of effect would alter his fate before he even realizes it.'

Herman exhaled deeply, his exhaustion evident.

"Sigh... both of us can rest now. It's up to him from here on," he muttered.

Time passed and nearly half an hour passed by.

Soon, the cocoon of light began to crack.

A blinding pillar of light shot skyward, illuminating the entire minor realm.

Within the glow, a single figure emerged, descending slowly like a saint gracing the mortal world.

The being was flawless, pure and untainted, a true embodiment of grace and purity.

The air reverberated with an ethereal silence as if the universe itself paused to witness the spectacle.

Erica, her instincts razor-sharp, manipulated space to greatly distort and contain the light within the realm-isolating barrier.

She must not let even a flicker escape.

When Ariase's feet finally touched the ground, he was unrecognizable.

His form was pristine, exuding a nigh-divine aura unlike anything before.

Herman, unable to contain his relief, turned to Erica and shouted, "It's done! We did it!"

Erica grinned at the sight of his triumphant smile despite his slightly battered state.

"You owe me big time, Herman. Don't even think about forgetting our deal."

With the ordeal behind them, the three returned to the penthouse, their exhaustion evident but their spirits high after their success.

...

Elsewhere, Ariase woke up, but not in the reality he recognized.

Instead, he found himself in a familiar yet surreal expanse.

Stars and nebulae stretched endlessly across the horizon, painting the cosmos in vibrant hues.

Opening his eyes, Ariase realized he was back in his soul wisp form.

But something was different.

Unlike before, when he resembled a flickering flame, he now possessed an actual translucent body, humanoid and defined.

"Huh?!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the vast emptiness.

"Why am I back here? Don't tell me... Did I die again?!"

Frustration boiled within him.

"I didn't even get to explore that world! Are you kidding me?"

Turning around, Ariase froze.

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt.

There it was—a formless ball of energy, pulsating with an inexplicable familiarity.

His breath hitched.

"Why is that here?" he whispered.

Drawn to it, he reached out tentatively.

But as his fingers neared the entity, it pulsed violently, nearly consuming him.

Before he could react, he was yanked back to reality.

Ariase jolted awake, gasping for air.

His hands darted to his body, frantically checking to ensure he was whole.

Nearby, Herman, busy with something mundane, glanced over.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"Finally awake, huh? Took you long enough. If you'd stayed out any longer, you'd have been in real trouble, Ria."

"You've been out cold for almost three weeks," he said with a sigh.